Author: sobrien

Queensbridge community honors late leader April Simpson-Taylor with street co-naming

From left: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Julie Won, Daniel Lee Taylor, the husband of the late April Simpson-Taylor, and family members. (Credit: Alex Krales/NYC Council Media Unit)

April 28, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials, community leaders and members of the Queensbridge Houses community gathered in Long Island City on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the co-naming of 12th Street and 40th Avenue in honor of former Queensbridge Houses Residents Association President April Simpson-Taylor. Simpson-Taylor, who died in March 2024 at the age… Read more »

Astoria Spring Retail Crawl returns with 26 businesses and expanded 10-day schedule

Astoria's Spring Retail Crawl returns today. Photo courtesy of Nicole Panettieri.

April 25, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The 8th-annual Astoria Spring Retail Crawl returns Friday, April 25, encouraging local residents to support small, independently owned businesses in the neighborhood. The popular retail crawl, founded by Brass Owl owner Nicole Panettieri, features 26 local businesses and runs from Friday, April 25, until Sunday, May 4. This gives… Read more »

Queens Cup cocktail competition returns to The Bonnie for 15th annual showdown

April 25, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The 15th-annual Queens Cup cocktail-making competition will return to the Bonnie in Astoria next month, bringing nine Queens bars together for an evening of craft cocktails inspired by some of the most popular video games of all time. Queens Cup Arcade: Ready Round 15 will take place at the… Read more »

Chefs go head-to-head for Brisket King crown at Pig Beach in Astoria

Guests line up for Brisket at the annual Brisket King NYC cook-off at Pig Beach BBQ. Photo: Shane O'Brien

April 24, 2025 By Shane O’Brien More than 500 barbecue lovers packed Pig Beach BBQ in Astoria on Wednesday, April 23, for the 13th-annual Brisket King NYC, where over 20 chefs from across the Tri-State area served up creative interpretations of the classic Texas barbecue dish. Held at 35-37 36th St., the competition saw chefs… Read more »

Rivercrest bar in Astoria raises nearly $12K for childhood cancer research with head-shaving fundraiser

New York International FC coach Nick Platt shaves his head for child cancer research at Rivercrest. Photo: Nicholas Alexandrakos.

April 24, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A spirited charity head-shave at Rivercrest, a popular bar on Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, raised nearly $12,000 for childhood cancer research earlier this month. The April 3 event marked Rivercrest’s first time participating in the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s annual head-shaving fundraiser, joining other bars in the Stout NYC Hospitality… Read more »

González-Rojas pushes for ‘Speak Your Truth Act’ to shield survivors from defamation suits

April 23, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas joined fellow lawmakers, legal experts and survivors of sexual assault on Tuesday to call for the passage of the Speak Your Truth Act, legislation aimed at protecting survivors who speak publicly about abuse from retaliatory defamation lawsuits. At a virtual press conference, González-Rojas and supporters… Read more »

Long-awaited Sunnyside playground breaks ground in honor of fallen firefighter

Elected officials, Parks Department representatives and members of Michael Davidson's family break ground at the planned Michael R. Davidson Playground. Photo: Shane O'Brien

April 22, 2025 By Shane O’Brien After years of planning, setbacks, and community advocacy, NYC Parks broke ground Monday afternoon on the new Michael R. Davidson Playground in Sunnyside. The $4.8 million project will transform the former Phipps Playground site into a modern public park honoring the FDNY firefighter who died in the line of… Read more »

Support grows for Astoria families who lost homes in four-alarm Easter fire

FDNY crews work to contain a massive Easter Sunday fire at 21-33 31st Ave. in Astoria. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

April 22, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Several online fundraisers have raised more than $90,000 for Astoria residents displaced by a four-alarm fire that ripped through two buildings on 31st Avenue on Easter Sunday. The blaze ignited inside a three-story mixed-use building at 21-33 31st Ave. shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, before spreading… Read more »